Atsuto Uchida after the injury in match between Japan and Hannover 96

Atsuto Uchida suffered the injury during a match between Japan and Hannover 96 on 09.02.2014. The match ended with the victory of Japan 2-0 against Hannover 96. 25-year-old Uchida opted not to undergo surgery. After rehabilitation in Japan he returned to German first-division club Schalke on Saturday.
Uchida told reporters at Narita airport before leaving for Germany “If I hurt the thigh again, then there will be no chance of playing at the World Cup”.
His place in Japan’s squad for the World Cup in Brazil for now is not certain.